Editing Boeing 777 (section)

=== Improvement and stretching: -200ER/-300 ===
[[File:Boeing 777-367, Cathay Pacific Airways JP6823635.jpg|thumb|[[Cathay Pacific]] introduced the stretched -300 variant on May 27, 1998.]]

After the baseline model, the 777-200, Boeing developed an increased [[gross weight]] variant with greater range and [[Payload (air and space craft)|payload]] capability.<ref name=eden113>{{Harvnb|Eden|2008|p=113}}</ref> Initially named 777-200IGW,<ref name="eden112-113"/> the 777-200ER first flew on October 7, 1996,<ref name="Boe_777_back"/> received FAA and JAA certification on January 17, 1997,<ref name="Haenggi_2003"/> and entered service with British Airways on February 9, 1997.<ref name="Haenggi_2003">Haenggi, Michael. "777 Triple Seven Revolution". ''Boeing Widebodies''. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7603-0842-X}}.</ref> Offering greater long-haul performance, the variant became the most widely ordered version of the aircraft through the early 2000s.<ref name=eden113/> On April 2, 1997, a [[Malaysia Airlines]] -200ER named "Super Ranger" broke the [[great circle]] "distance without landing" record for an airliner by flying eastward from [[Boeing Field]], [[Seattle]] to [[KLIA|Kuala Lumpur]], a distance of {{convert|10823|nmi}}, in 21 hours and 23 minutes.<ref name="Norris and Wagner, p. 148"/>

Following the introduction of the -200ER, Boeing turned its attention to a stretched version of the baseline model. On October 16, 1997, the 777-300 made its first flight.<ref name="Boe_777_back">{{cite web |url=http://www.boeing.com/commercial/777family/background.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608062814/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/777family/background.html |archive-date=June 8, 2009 |title=The Boeing 777 Program Background |work=Boeing |access-date=June 6, 2009}}</ref> At {{cvt|242.4|ft}} in length, the -300 became the longest airliner yet produced (until the [[Airbus A340-500|A340-600]]), and had a 20 percent greater overall capacity than the standard length model.<ref name=norris151>{{Harvnb|Norris|Wagner|1999|p=151}}</ref> The -300 was awarded type certification simultaneously from the FAA and JAA on May 4, 1998,<ref name=Norris_2001_p125>{{Harvnb|Norris|Wagner|2001|p=125}}</ref> and entered service with launch customer Cathay Pacific on May 27, 1998.<ref name="Boe_777_back"/><ref name="norris157">{{Harvnb|Norris|Wagner|1999|pp=151–157}}</ref>

The first generation of Boeing 777 models, the -200, -200ER, and -300 have since been known collectively as the ''Boeing 777 Classics''.<ref name=Flight1sep2017/> These three early 777 variants had three engine options ranging from {{cvt|77,200 to 98000|lbf|kN}}: [[General Electric GE90]], [[Pratt & Whitney PW4000]], or [[Rolls-Royce Trent 800]].<ref name="Flight1sep2017" />